The Palestine Chronology

A Hamas suicide bomber (a Jenin resident) detonates a device on a bus in Haifa, killing 4 IDF soldiers, 4 Israeli civilians, wounding 14. In Jenin, the IDF bulldozes "whole stretches" of Palestinian homes in the area where 13 soldiers were killed on 4/9; unconfirmed reports accuse the IDF of burying bodies during the demolitions to hide evidence of a massacre. Villages around Jenin reportedly have taken in 1,000s of Palestinians fleeing the camp in recent days. In Nablus, medical workers say 11 Palestinians were killed in overnight clashes with the IDF, another 63 injured, bringing the toll since the incursion in the city began to around 60; the IDF destroys 4 alleged bomb-making factories, then pulls back fr. the old city market area, eases attacks in Nablus and nearby al-`Ayn r.c. (where 25 homes reportedly have been destroyed), calls on survivors to surrender. In Bethlehem, the IDF shoots, wounds an Armenian monk standing at the window of his room in the Church of the Nativity complex; shoots dead 2 Palestinians who attempt to sneak out of the church to get food, medicine for those inside. Israel rejects an appeal by the Vatican, Greek Orthodox Church, Armenians for a "safe conduct" agmt. to end the standoff. The IDF bars a UN relief convoy fr. bringing food, emergency supplies into Ramallah. A World Bank delegation says it obtained access to the PA Central Bureau of Statistics, PA Education Min. and found both ransacked, computers stripped of hard drives, files purged, safes blasted open, some $10,000 stolen. Late this evening, the IDF pulls out of Qabatiyya, Samua, Yatta. (AP, CNN, HA, JP [Internet], MM, PMC 4/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/11; al-Quds 4/11 in WNC 4/12; MEI 4/19; WP 4/20)

After 3 days of consultations with Arab leaders, Powell meets in Madrid with senior quartet reps. (EU foreign policy dir. Javier Solana, Russian FM Igor Ivanov, UN Secy.-Gen. Annan), who issue a statement fully backing his mission. (RMC 4/10 in WNC 4/11; MM, NYT, WP 4/11)

Military Action:

IDF jeeps and APCs come under RPG attack near Shuweifat; artillery, machine gun exchanges between Druze and Phalange in Aley, IDF rushes 50 APCs and tanks, 500 troops to area, imposes curfew and cuts traffic between Chouf villages; IDF forces withdraw from Yarze area housing Lebanese Army command and home of US Ambassador Dillon.

Casualties:

UNRWA begins distributing cement and stoves in Ain el-Hilweh; 1 attacker killed, 1 IDF soldier wounded in Shuweifat.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon tells Knesset committee Israel will withdraw to 40 miles above border only after PLO and Syria withdraw troops and Israeli prisoners are returned, but will stay there until Lebanon signs security agreement allowing direct IDF involvement in security arrangements; Shamir tells US Jewish leaders in Israel that multinational peacekeeping force is unnecessary for ensuring safety of South Lebanon; Jerusalem Post poll shows Sharon support dropping since massacre; Commission of Inquiry interviews Yiram Yair, IDF commander in area of camps during massacre, behind closed doors; Statistics Bureau puts price rise at 106 percent since start of year, and inflation rate may reach 138 percent by end of year; two week old memo revealed which ordered Israeli military governors to "neutralize to the maximum" pro-Jordanian elements among West Bank Arabs and to step up support for Village Leagues, in apparent attempt to block options for peace settlement involving Jordan; Likud MK Dror Zeigerman says government initiative in issuing memo would imply plan for ultimate annexation of occupied territories, and warns such a plan would turn the West Bank into "Israel's Viet Nam"; Peace Now issues statement condemning Civil Administrator for implementing "corrupt colonialist policies"; heads of Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian churches in Jerusalem threaten to close holy places over Christmas unless expulsion order against Armenian Deputy Patriarch Karanjian is rescinded, but Interior Ministry refuses to reveal basis for decision to not renew visa; Tehiya Party, at annual meeting, demands that Israel annex West Bank and Gaza; Nahal plans five outposts, three settlements in West Bank in coming year; Bethlehem University student council leader put under town arrest for six months.

US and Other Countries: French President Mitterrand, in Paris meeting, tells Arab League delegation headed by King Hussein that Arabs and PLO should recognize Israel; State Department issues unusually strong 2 page statement that Israel's deportation of teachers from West Bank universities (which are partly funded by US foreign aid) undermines peace negotiations.